Of you my heart has spoken: Seek his face. It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; hide not your face from me.
(Ps 27:8-9)

PENITENTIAL RITE

The testing of Abraham and the transfiguration of Jesus took place on two separate mountains. Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son on an altar he himself was to build. He prepared the altar and laid his son on the altar to sacrifice him. But the voice of God stopped him from offering up his son. Instead, Abraham offered a ram as sacrifice. The appearance of Jesus to his chosen disciples was a transforming moment in their lives. Jesus appeared to his disciples in glory when the cross was looming large over his head. He voluntarily accepted the cross. God’s Son went ahead to die on the cross so that his disciples could have fullness of life. What are we offering to God for the blessings he gives us? Can we resolve to transform our lives? (Pause)

I Confess to almighty God...

COLLECT

O God, who have commanded us to listen to your beloved Son, be pleased we pray, to nourish us inwardly by your word, that, with spiritual sight made pure, we may rejoice to behold your glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, you Son, who lives and reigns....

FIRST READING

(God tests Abraham for his faith. When asked to offer his son Isaac in sacrifice, Abraham agrees and thereby proves himself to be a man of faith).

A reading from the Book of Genesis
(22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18)

God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the